Subject: SMML VOL 2897 Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 02:03:47 +1000 The Ship Modelling Mailing List (SMML) is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com For infomation on how to Post to SMML and Unsubscribe from SMML http//smmlonline.com/aboutsmml/rules.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Re Niko Models 2 A Mikasa query 3 Re Enterprise CV-6 4 Niko Models Le Terrible 5 Re Golden Hind Kit 6 Paper models as patterns for models in palstic, wood, metal 7 Enterprise 8 1/700 scale Aggressive class minesweepers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information 1 From the IPMS/USA National Contest Contest Committee ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Harold Stockton" Subject Re Niko Models It has been some times since I have written about the latest releases from Niko Models of Poland. The latest 1/700 scale resin waterline ship releases, with photoetched pieces, are the following 7008 - ORP Garland (1/700) Polish WW2 destroyer, formerly the HMS Garland; H-37, 1942. 7009 - ORP Orzel (1/700) Polish WWII submarine, 1939. 7010 - ORP SEP (1/700) Polish post-war submarine, 1956. This one has photoetched sailors. 7011 - San Marco (1/700) Italian Light Cruiser, D-563. 7012 - San Giorgio (1/700) Italian Light Cruiser, D-562. 7013 - ORP Conrad (1/700) Polish Cruiser "D" Class. 7014 - Le Terrible (1/700) French Destroyer (Fantasque class), 1944. 7015 - Le Picard (1/700) French Fast Frigate E52 Type; 1954, F-766. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From chris Tilley Subject A Mikasa query I'm glad to see I'm not the only one pleased by Hasegawa's new offering, but now I've got one of those queries that only those in SMML-land may be able to answer. The box art shows her with three-bar rails around the main deck, just as she has today. But does anyone have a period picture, either Russo-Japanese wartime or in the black scheme, that shows the deck railings? The, unfortunately no longer available, Seals photo-etch IJN pre-dreadnought 1/700 detail set had two-bar rails, and most IJN vessels were likewise equipped, but does anyone have definitive evidence? I've a picture somewhere of one of the early IJN battleships (Katori I think) with three bar rails, while she's under construction in the UK, but that can't necessarily apply to the others. So, folks, what say you? While I'm on the subject of IJN obscurities, the Yamato-philes among you may be interested in the new 1/700 Yamato from Takara. She comes pre-painted, with a BLACK deck, and with interior detail. However, she's marketed as a 'trading model', so she comes in many different bits in many different packs. So, you have to buy a whole box to get her complete or try collecting the separate pieces and never quite knowing what you'll get! Chris Tilley ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From David Wells Subject Re Enterprise CV-6 Matty wrote >> Leaving aside the (at least one) 1/700 kit(s) of Enterprise CV-6 - which IIRC are waterline only - there was always the full-hull, 1/490 scale Revell "Battle of Midway Carrier" kit. (Aka Yorktown CV-5; also issued over the years as Enterprise herself.) The Revell kit requires correction in several areas to make an early WWII CV-6 - more corrections for later in the war, and there are some excellent resin conversion sets (for the island) from Nautilus Models. But OOB the kit does have an accurate "face", as you put it (and I agree!); the hull on this kit overall is very nice and I believe rather accurate. Issued as Yorktown, Hornet, Enterprise - and again reissued now as "Battle of Midway Carrier" - it is readily available and pretty cheap, too! << I mostly agree with Matt on this one. The old Revell kit (circa 1968) is pretty good, especially for its day. It certainly does need some work, especially on the guns. The light guns (.50 cal?) are especially bad for the Enterprise version, and they're difficult to correct. On the "Battle of Midway" issues at least, Revell provides two sets of "catwalks" along the sides of the flight deck. The Enterprise version has the light guns molded into the deck, and they're just awful, and they aren't even easy to remove. At last word, the Nautilus Models island upgrade was out of production. I've never seen one, but Nautilus' other products have gotten good reviews. In short, the kit is old, but pretty good. With work, you can make it into something nice. "There seems to be something wrong | David R. Wells with our bloody ships today" | Adm. D. Beatty, May 31, 1916 | http//home.att.net/~WellsBrothers/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From "Harold Stockton" Subject Niko Models Le Terrible For those interested in expanding their WW-II destroyer fleet, this time in French, Niko Models' has released their kit #7014 of the Le Terrible (1/700) French Destroyer (Fantasque class of Destroyer Leaders), 1944, the class is reclassified as light cruisers in 1943. They held the distinction of being the world's fastest flotilla ships throughout their entire career all the way to the early 1960's. They could reliably maintain a speed of 37.0 knots with a full combat loading. On trials, at a lighter loading, some ships in the class did better than 45.0 knots. Compared to their predecessors, the Vauquelins, the expected speed of the Fantasques was one knot faster and they mounted newer, more powerful guns; the 13.86 cm/40 (5.46") Model 1929. A new silhouette was also planned, more compact than that of previous designs. Originally, the Fantasques were to have four funels, but instead were given two short and wide ones. They had bridges with rounded fronts which were intended to make it difficult an enemy to estimate bearing, and the end result was also simpler and more aerodynamic compared to other destroyers. These destroyers were among the largest and fastest of WW2. The German Z class was built in direct response to these ships. The French Le Fantasque class destroyers were ordered under the French naval programme of 1930. There were six ships in the class with specifications of; Displacement 2569 tons standard and 3200 to 3400 tons full load. Speed 37 Knots Compliment 210. Armament Five 5.5 inch guns, Four 37mm AA guns, Four 13.2mm AA Guns and Nine 21.7 inch Torpedo Tubes, also 50 mines. Le Malin; (Pennant number -8) launched 17th August 1933, scrapped in February 1964. Le Terrible; (Pennant number 12-, D60, D611) launched 30th November 1933, scrapped in June 1962. L'Indomptable; (Pennant number -7, 15-) launched 7th December 1933, scuttled at Toulon on 27th November 1942. L'Audacieux; (Pennant number -9, 11-) launched 15th March 1934, took severe damage when hit by the cruiser HMAS Australia but was repaired only to be sunk on 7th May 1943 by Allied bombers. La Fantasque; (Pennant number 7-, -10) launched 15th March 1934, stricken on 2nd May 1957. Attached to "Force de Raid" at outbreak of hostilities, taking part in several sorties in N. Atlantic and off African coast in search of Admiral Graf Spee. Captured the German cargo ship Santa Fe. On 9 Sep 1940 sailed with Force "Y" to Dakar. Left Dakar for Boston Feb 1943 for refit, including radar, 8-40mm and 10-20mm AA guns, while surrendering aft platform of torpedo tubes. Used in Mediterranean until the end of the war, including several raids, some into the Aegean Sea. Le Triomphant; (Pennant number -9) launched 16th April 1934, stricken in December 1954. As far as main armament was concerned, these vessels took destroyer armament to the world's best. The success of the 13.86 cm/40 (5.46") Model 1927 led to the development of these more powerful weapons. For the first time, power elevation and training were provided to destroyer gun mounts, which arguably made them France's best destroyer guns of World War II. Unfortunately, the lack of a high elevation capability made them useless against aircraft. They were also fragile and complicated weapons, conditions which made it difficult for them to achieve their official rate of fire. Problems with the ammunition hoists were reportedly corrected in March 1940. The rate of fire for the Model 1929 was an estimated 12 rounds per minute maximum, with seven rounds per minute being the practical. The main difference between the Model 1929 and Model 1934 was the mounting arrangements. The Model 1929 was for single mountings while the Model 1934 was for twin mountings. The twin mounting was also weather enclosed, which offered obvious operational advantages over all previous French destroyers. Built with a monobloc autofretted barrel and a breech ring that was screwed on cold. The breech mechanism was a sliding block of semi-automatic operation. The unsatisfactory performance of the French 13.86 cm (5.46") Model 1923 resulted in a new design based upon a gun from a former enemy. The Model 1927 was developed from the German 15 cm (5.9") gun used on the destroyer S113, which was taken over by France at the end of World War I and renamed Amiral Sénès. Like the German weapon, the Model 1927 was fitted with a horizontal sliding wedge breech-block of semi-automatic operation. The barrel was autofretted and used the same shells and cartridge cases as in the Model 1929, but with a smaller propellant charge. All in all, an excellent choice for Niko Models to offer. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From "Jimmy Bloom" Subject Re Golden Hind Kit Terry wrote >> I have a Gowland Creations model kit of The Golden Hind from aprox. 1953. It is still in the cellophane bag in the original box (which is scuffed). Are you able to tell me if it is of any value as after some 53 years of possession I don't think I will assemble it now. I live in Nottinghamshire, UK << The Gowland "Shipyard" series are mainly of value as souvenirs from the pioneer days of plastic modeling. Models from this series are not true scale models. They are all roughly 1/300 scale but more like box scale....all of a uniform size, about 4-5 inches long-- made to fit a standard box.. The kits sell on ebay regularly for around $5-$10, while completed store display models go for about $15-$20, the latter mainly the "ship in bottle" versions. They are reasonable facsimiles of the ships, given the crude molding technology of the time. I collect them only as artifacts for nostalgia as these were the first ship models I built. Hope this helps Jim Bloom Silver Spring, Maryland USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Kerry Jang Subject Paper models as patterns for models in palstic, wood, metal Hello all, Over the past years, there has been a lot of chat that paper models could be used as a source of patterns for models made in wood, plastic, etc. I recall an e-mail exchange some time ago with David Hathaway of Paper Shipwright (he's now got me hooked on making paper model ships!) about this and if I remember correctly, he had never seen a paper model actually used as a pattern. I was searching the web and found this URL http//www.cardmodelers.org/online/sig33-pt1/sig33-part1.html This fellow used the paper model parts as patterns to etch in brass parts for a model fieldpiece! Thought you all might find it interesting. Amazing work! Cheers, Kerry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From WILLIAM ORETO Subject Enterprise Oh but there are kits of the famous three ladies. HP produces all three Yorktown class carriers of 1942 and the Enterprise of 1944. Yes- they are 1/700 and waterline. I looked over the the 1942 Enterprise kit with a mind of doing an Enterprise of Santa Cruz and with some minor enlarging of the 40mm tubs, the addition of some missing 20mm deck edge tubs and the forward 1.1 she would make a very good representation without much grief. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From "Terry Howlett" Subject 1/700 scale Aggressive class minesweepers I am intending to make a number of model minesweepers for NATO navies post war to current date. Does anyone know what 1/700 scale models exist. I am happy to adapt/copnvert also. Main focus at the moment is the US Aggresive class as everyone seemed to have them after the war and during 60's and 70's. Thanks Terry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Rusty White Subject From the IPMS/USA National Contest Contest Committee "FROM THE NATIONAL CONTEST COMMITTEE, INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC MODELERS SOCIETY. We've been reading some explanations for the recent events concerning the national contest in Atlanta. Though sad to read, such responses were not unexpected. We don't intend to engage in a forensic duel that will only serve to further the damage already inflicted, and detract from the convention overall. Suffice it to say, however, that there has never, ever, been such a fundamental failure at any previous national contest, where standards and procedures proven and developed over the years were in place and adhered to. The one national contest where such procedures were not followed, and where proffered advice was not taken -- Atlanta -- provided very different results. We have successfully recorded the outcome of IPMS Nationals for dozens of conventions, and our most experienced recorder tried repeatedly to assist the individual that Atlanta was paying to perform the recording. She was told she didn't know what she was doing and was asked to leave. We'll stand by our overall record. We will also guarantee that steps are being taken to ensure that the modelers and the contest will never again face even the prospect of such a breakdown. There will be no option for unapproved experimentation with the contest and its entrants. There will, no doubt, be responses to this short note, but having said our piece, we will move on to Kansas City and, with regard to the national contest, leave Atlanta to deal with its legacy." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume